Petty was supported by his band, The Heartbreakers, for the majority of his career. He has occasionally released solo work, as was the case with his 2006 album Highway Companion on which he performed most of the backing instrumentation himself. However, members of The Heartbreakers have played on each of his solo albums and the band has always backed him when touring in support of those albums.
After the Petty's previous band Mudcrutch disbanded, Petty, never one to give up, enlisted Mudcrutch members Tench (keyboards) and Mike Campbell (guitar), along with Gainesville musicians Ron Blair (bass) and Stan Lynch (drums) to form the now famous lineup that was dubbed Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. They released their first album, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in November 1976. In 2006, the band celebrated the 30th anniversary of that release.
This lineup stayed intact for four records and was responsible for some of the most infectious songs ("American Girl", "Breakdown", "Listen To Her Heart", "Refugee", "I Need To Know", "Don't Do Me Like That") and one of the most critically acclaimed albums ("Damn the Torpedoes") of all time. Their tremendous success catapulted them from club band to arena rockers seemingly overnight.
Bassist Blair split the band in 1982 and was replaced by Howie Epstein, a protege of seminal rocker Del Shannon. Epstein's solid playing and soaring backing vocals further complemented the band's live attack. Without missing a beat, they headed back into the studio to record a string of successful albums, including the classic "Long After Dark". In 1994, Stan Lynch left the Heartbreakers to pursue other musical challenges and Steve Ferrone (well regarded for his work with the Average White Band and Eric Clapton) soon became the Heartbreakers' chosen drummer.
Most recently, at a time when many of their contemporaries have long since grown complacent, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers have in 2002 released one of their finest and most controversial efforts - featuring some of Petty's most moving songs. Recorded both before and following the group's 2002 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, "The Last DJ", reflected Petty's strong views about the state of the music business and the culture generally. With the departure of Howie Epstein, "The Last DJ" marked another notable return: after two decades away, founding Heartbreaker Ron Blair returned to the band's rhythm section. In 2010, The Heartbreakers released the well received album "Mojo".
Petty died on 2 October 2017 following a cardiac episode earlier that day at his home in Malibu, California. Although some media outlets incorrectly reported his death following an erroneous police report, his death was confirmed later that day by his publicist and manager.
So You Want To Be A Rock 'N' Roll Star
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then listen now to what I say
Just get an electric guitar
And take some time and learn how to play
And when your hair's combed right and your pants fit tight
It's gonna be all right
Then it's time to go down town
Sell your soul to the company
Who are waiting there to sell plastic ware
And in a week or two if you make the charts
The girls'll tear you apart
The price you pay for your riches and fame
Was it all a strange game
You're a little insane
The money that came and the public acclaim
Don't forget what you are
You're a rock 'n' roll star
The Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers song "So You Want To Be A Rock 'N' Roll Star" is a commentary on the music industry and what it takes to become a successful rock star. The lyrics provide a how-to guide, advising aspiring rock stars to learn to play the guitar and look the part, but also highlighting the dark side of the industry. The line "sell your soul to the company" suggests that success comes at a cost and that artists must make sacrifices to achieve fame and wealth.
The song also questions the value of fame and asks whether it's all just a "strange game." The final line, "don’t forget what you are, you’re a rock 'n' roll star," serves as a reminder to those who have achieved success to remain true to themselves and not get carried away by their own hype. Overall, the song serves as a cautionary tale about the high cost of fame and the importance of staying grounded.
Line by Line Meaning
So you want to be a rock 'n' roll star
You desire to become a famous rock musician
Then listen now to what I say
Pay attention to my advice
Just get an electric guitar
Acquire an electric guitar
And take some time and learn how to play
Practice and become proficient at playing the guitar
And when your hair's combed right and your pants fit tight
Prepare your appearance to look trendy and fashionable
It's gonna be all right
Things will be satisfactory
Then it's time to go down town
Proceed to the main city
Where the agent men won't let you down
Meet music agents who will not disappoint you
Sell your soul to the company
Compromise your values and principles for personal gain
Who are waiting there to sell plastic ware
They are eager to market commercialized music for profit
And in a week or two if you make the charts
If you become popular and featured on music charts within a short time
The girls'll tear you apart
Female fans will be ecstatic about your music and persona
The price you pay for your riches and fame
The trade-offs you make to attain wealth and recognition
Was it all a strange game
Was it all an unusual and curious endeavor
You're a little insane
You may be somewhat crazy or irrational
The money that came and the public acclaim
The wealth and popularity that resulted from your music
Don't forget what you are
Remember your identity and what you stand for
You're a rock 'n' roll star
You are a renowned rock musician
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Chris Hillman, Roger McGuinn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@unevenspleener
Petty pays tribute to the Byrds, this legendary band, while he himself is a legend. Everything this dude records rings true. RIP Tom Petty.
@vernpascal1531
Well said. The bonus disc of Wildflowers is like getting a good new album from Tom. As you say everything he says not only rings true...it sounds deceptively simple...till you try and do it yourself....
@lancevoorhees7318
I miss you Tom, you guys were great! You were so young to leave now!
@kwilkinson5470
I couldn’t have said it better ^
@Robert-wz2ui
You'll be hard pressed to find some horns on a Petty song if someone does let me know not that I've been looking just don't hear him put some one up on everybody he restored rock and roll
@patricias5122
It's like an homage to the Byrds....but has Petty's own stamp
@jerryjanski551
Mike Campbell is one of the most underrated guitarists in all of rock n roll.
@PurelyPog
So true!!!
@theseeingeye454
Listen closely to his "Eight Miles High" quotation @ 1:38 and 2:20
@davidtepper2290
YES!